Decision details

To determine the statutory proposal to reorganise and enlarge Grove Park School.

51.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Children's Services.

DECISIONS

51.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to approve the proposal to lower Grove Park School’s age range from 4-19 to 2-19 and relocate its secondary phase to the school’s Church Road premises to accommodate additional pupils by September 2027, contingent upon planning permission being granted for the new block by the Local Authority’s Planning Committee.

REASONS

51.3     The Local Authority is proposing to reorganise Grove Park School by lowering its age range and enlarging its Church Road premises by building a new block on the site to accommodate secondary age pupils by 1 September 2027.

51.4     In accordance with the EIA 2006 and the 2013 Regulations, the Local Authority, as the responsible body, is required to determine the statutory proposal within 2 months of the end of the representation period. The Regulations set out the options the decision-maker has to consider when making a decision. The decision-maker can:

·       reject the proposal

·       approve the proposal without modification

·       approve the proposal with modifications, or

·       approve the proposal, with or without modification, subject to certain conditions being met.

51.5     Approving the proposal without modification will bring Grove Park School’s primary and secondary phases together on one site, and add nursery provision. This will have several benefits for the pupils attending the school:

·       The increasing pupil numbers at Grove Park School and Beacon Academy has meant that the intended integration of both cohorts of pupils is no longer practical.

·       Pupils attending the secondary provision have limited access to shared spaces, such as the sports facilities and specialist rooms. A single site for primary and secondary pupils at Grove Park School would afford ownership of those facilities and the flexibility to timetable spaces with the needs of the pupils at the centre of the decision making.

·       The school’s budget can be used more effectively as some services could be centralised, for example, one reception area at Church Road for primary and secondary. Teaching, administration, and site staff would work across 2 sites rather than 3, leading to better utilisation and deployment of staff.

·       Currently, the ability to share learning resources is limited, for example, the school has 3 Physical Education (PE) storage areas with similar resources, which on 2 sites, could more easily be shared, leading to better utilisation of learning resources.

·       For regular visitors, for example therapists, being able to visit 2 sites would reduce travel time and increase the access to therapy for those pupils that need it.

·       Bringing the primary and secondary phases together on one site would give pupils and their families an enhanced sense of community, belonging and identity.

51.6     In this instance, a planning application for the proposed enlargement of the Church Road premises was submitted in November 2024 and is due to be determined by the Local Authority’s Planning Committee on 30 April 2025.